Community Archaeology in the Islamic World

Community archaeology, or the notion that local officials, school teachers, community elders, workmen, and other community members might be recruited as partners in helping to preserve, protect, interpret, and present archaeological sites, is at best a nascent one in Islamic archaeology. This chapter provides a brief background to the concept and practice of community archaeology with special reference to its standing as an academic subspecialty within Islamic archaeology and its on-the-ground practice in countries with predominantly Muslim populations. The contribution of various international and professional organizations to the development of community archaeology in Islamic countries is assayed and specific projects are highlighted as examples of the kind of work that is being done in different countries. The chapter concludes by singling out the country of Jordan as being in the vanguard of a community archaeology revolution in the Islamic lands, including lessons learned in that country about best practices for implementing community archaeology projects.